292 PYRUS 



P. RlNGO, Wenzig. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 8265 ; Malus Ringo, Siebold.) 



A small tree usually under 20 ft. in height, of graceful habit ; young 

 branches covered with greyish down. Leaves ovate or oval, 2 to 4 ins. long, 

 two-thirds as wide, downy above when young, permanently so beneath, 

 sharply toothed ; stalk -i- to f in. long, downy. Flowers in apple-like clusters, 

 each on a woolly stalk i to i^ ins. long, rosy red in bud, paler when open, 

 becoming almost white ; calyx-lobes narrowly lanceolate, hairy on both sides. 

 Fruit pendulous, i^ ins. long, i in. wide, roundish, egg-shaped, bright yellow, 

 crowned by persistent calyx-lobes. 



This tree appears to have 'been originally introduced to Europe by Siebold 

 from Japan about the middle of last century, but it is not known tabe any- 

 where wild in Japan. Wilson states that he found it wild in Central 

 China (Planta Wils., ii., 280). As a tree for the garden its great attraction is 

 its abundant, gracefully pendent, bright yellow fruits, which hang from the 

 lower side of the branches in long crowded rows, and make it probably the 

 handsomest of our yellow-fruited hardy trees. They have an apple-like flavour 

 and are quite pleasant eating. (Fig. p. 291.) 



Var. FASTIGIATA BIFERA. A tree of pyramidal habit, probably a hybrid 

 between some form of P. Malus and P. Ringo. Fruit abundant, yellow, 

 stained with red, about the size of a pigeon's egg. 



P. RIVULARIS, Douglas. OREGON CRAB. 



(P. fusca, Rafinesque ; Malus fusca, C. K. Schneider.} 



A tree 20 to 30 ft. high, often ,a shrub ; branchlets slender, more or less 

 downy. Leaves variously shaped, from broadly ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 

 often three-lobed ; the largest 4 ins. long, and i\ ins. wide, more often i to 

 3 ins. long, and half as wide ; the base tapering, rounded or slightly heart- 

 shaped, pointed at the apex, sharply toothed ; downy on both sides ; stalk 

 downy, i to \\ ins. long. Flowers white or rose-tinted, f in. across, produced 

 in clusters of six to twelve. Fruit egg-shaped, \ to f in. long, red, yellow, or 

 greenish yellow, the calyx teeth fallen away from the top. 



Native of Western N. America ; introduced in 1836, according to Loudon, 

 but little known in cultivation now, although it is offered sometimes in tree 

 catalogues of continental firms. It belongs to the Toringo group of crabs, 

 but appears to have no special value for the garden. The fruit has an 

 agreeable sub-acid taste, and the wood, being close and hard, is valued in 

 the western States for uses similar to those of apple- and pear-wood in this 

 country. 



P. SALICIFOLIA, Pallas. WILLOW-LEAVED PEAR. 



A tree 15 to 25 ft. high, branchlets covered with down which is quite 

 white when young. Leaves i| to 3^ ins. long, \ to f in. wide ; narrowly 

 lanceolate, tapering gradually towards both ends, covered when young on 

 both sides with a beautiful silvery grey down; later in the year this falls 

 away from the upper surface, leaving it shining green ; margins quite entire ; 

 stalk ij-in. long or less, some-times scarcely noticeable. Flowers pure white, 

 about | in. across, produced in April, closely packed in small rounded 

 corymbs, the calyx and flower-stalk covered with white wool. Fruit of the 

 typical pear-shape, i to j| ins. long and wide. 



Native of S.E. Europe and Asia Minor; introduced in 1780. It is much 



